Snap-in valve

ABSTRACT

An aerosol valve assembly incorporates conventional valve parts in a plastic retainer member by means of tabs struck inwardly from the material of the retainer. The assembly of valve and retainer members is forced into an aperture in a modified container end closure. A secure seal to the end closure is established.

United States Patent n 1 Focht 1 1 Nov. 5, 1974 WI SNAP-1N VALVE [75] Inventor: John Richard Focht, Yonkers, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Precision Valve Corporation,

Yonkers, NY.

[22] Filed: May 7, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 141,207

[52] U.S. Cl ZZZ/402.24, 29/510, 29/516,'

285/DIG. 22 [51] Int. Cl B65d 83/14 [58] Field of Search 222/4021, 402.24; 29/510, 29/516, 453; 285/319, DIG. 22

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,267,076 5/1918 Hudson 285/319 X 1,661,674 3/1928 Osborn 285/319 2,687,831 8/1954 Miller 285/DIG. 22 2,957,61 1 10/1960 Sagarin ZZZ/402.24

2.985342 5/1 61 l m'hl ZZZ/402,24 3,081,917 3/1963 Querciu 29/453 X 3,191,815 6/1965 Graham et al. ZZZ/402.1 3,424,353 1/1969 Meador 222/4021 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 76,994 11/1961 France 224/402.24

Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant ExaminerFrederick R. Handren Attorney, Agent, or FirmDavis, Hoxie, Faithful & Hapgood [5 7 ABSTRACT An aerosol valve assembly incorporates conventional valve parts in a plastic retainer member by means of tabs struck inwardly from the material of the retainer. The assembly of valve and retainer members is forced into an aperture in a modified container end closure. A secure seal to the end closure is established.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures The present invention is concerned with a valve structure for use with a pressurized aerosol dispenser. Most aerosol valves comprise a gasket, valve body and spring in a valve housing. These parts are held in proper assembly by means of a crimp or the like in the pedestal portion of a metal valve mounting cup. The mounting cup, when assembled with the valve parts and a product eduction tube, is sold as a unit for later seam rolling attachment to a mouth aperture in the top end closure wall of a container. U.S. Pat. No. 2,631,814 to Robert H. Abplanalp shows such a valve and mounting cup.

The present invention incorporates conventional aerosol valve parts in a one piece plastic retainer member which utilizes a novel valve retention means and which is particularly adapted for assembly with a modified metal end closure for the container. The assembly techniques made possible by the novel structure reduce assembly costs while providing an extraordinarily secure and leak-proof attachment.

The present invention provides a structure which is inexpensive and is well suited to automatic assembly. It uses presently available internal valve parts which have well established economy and reliability. The present invention allows the elimination of the conventional metal valve mounting cup and its seal to the container and permits the greater use of economical plastic materials. All plastic aerosol valve assemblies which eliminate metal valve mounting cups have been before proposed. See for example U.S. Pat-No. 2,985,342 to John R. Focht. The structure of the present invention improves over such previous proposals in its'adaptability to automatic assembly and in its ability to withstand excessive container pressures without leakage.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view in section showing the valve structure and end closure of the present inven: tion, and

FIG. 2 is a view in partial section of the structure of FIG. 1 in an exploded form prior to assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, a domed metal end closure is provided with a peripheral seam contiguration ll conventional for securing end closures to pressurized aerosol containers. A plastic valve assembly 60 is secured and sealed in a central aperture in the end closure 10. The manner of securement will be described in detail later in this disclosure. Although any of several plastic materials are useful, nylon is particularly well suited to fabrication of the parts used in this invention.

The valve assembly 60'comprises a molded plastic retainer member 20, a valve housing 30, a movable valve body 40 including a hollow valve stem 42 for receiving an actuating button 70, a resilient sealing gasket 46, and a valve spring 48. The retainer member includes a hollow cylindrical skirt portion 22 which receives the valve parts. The cylindrical skirt portion 22 terminates in an end wall 24 through which the valve stem 42 protrudes. The valve stem aperture in the end wall 24 may include serrations 26 for container rapid filling purposes as is described in US. Pat. No. 3,319,669 to RobertH. Abplanalp. The cylindrical portion 22 of retainer member 20 retains the valve unit which comprises parts 30, 40, 46 and 48. The retainer member 20 also includes a radial flange 28 which overlies and abuts the metal end closure 10. An upstanding wall 29 may be provided on the periphery of the flange for such uses as attachment of a protective overcap. Such an overcap is shown in FIG. 1 as element 80.

Plastic valve housing 30 fits within the cylindrical portion 22 of the retainer 20. Valve housing 30 may include a dip tube receiving nipple 34 for a product educing 30 serve to strengthen the valve housing and as a seat for valve spring 48.

Valve body 40 includes a hollow valve stem portion 42 for receiving an actuator button and includes a product passage in the hollow stem interior. A valve orifice 44 extends transverse to the valve stem passage and is sealed by the edge of the aperture of annular resilient sealing gasket 46 when thevalve is closed, but is exposed to the pressurized product in the container when the valve stem 42 is depressed against the upward bias of valve spring 48. The resilient gasket 46 is peeled away from sealing engagement with the valve orifice 44 in a manner described in the aforementioned Abplanalp U.S. Pat. No. 2,63l,8l4 to discharge the product.

Retainer member 20 is adapted to be force-fitted in sealing engagement with the end closure 10 of the container with the cylindrical skirt portion 22 extending through a central aperture in the end closure. The exterior surface of cylindrical portion 22 below radial flange 28 is provided with an annular sealing bead 21' and an annular shoulder portion 23. End closure member 10 is provided with a central aperture bordered by an inwardly projecting tapered flange 13. The diameter of the aperture is slightly less than the exterior diameter of cylindrical skirt portion 22 of the retainer member 20 to provide an interference fit when the retainer member is forced into the aperture. When the retainer member 20 is seated with the aperture, the lower edge of tapered flange l3 bears against the sloping face of annular shoulder 23 to retain the retainer member in place under conditions of container pressurization. The metal edge of the end closure aperture bites into the plastic of the shoulder portion 23 to establish a first pressure seal. Annular sealing bead 21 formed on the retainer member 20 bears against the tapered flange 13 with considerable radial compression to establish a further pressure seal. End closure 10 is provided with a shallow conical depressed region 12 surrounding the central aperture. )When fully seated, the radial flange 28 of the plastic retainer member is deflected into a matching shallow conical configuration as is shown in FIG. 1. The deflection of the radial flange 28 of retainer member 20 causes the lower edge of tapered flange 13 to maintain an appreciable compressive force against the annular shoulder portion 23 upon which it bears. The retainer member 20, when forced into seating engagement with the end closure aperture, is in a stressed condition which provides a high degree of attachment security and pressure sealing integrity.

The assembly of the plastic retainer member 20 and the end closure 10 is capable of withstanding excessive internal container pressure. Internal pressure tends to force the annular shoulder 23 into deeper engagement with the edge of the end closure aperture. Further, as

internal pressure increases it tends to flatten the conical portion 12 of the end closure thereby reducing the diameter of the end closure aperture to provide a greater radial compression of the bead 21 of the retainer member with the result that the retention and sealing effects are increased.

The structure of the present invention is well suited to automatic assembly techniques. The resilient gasket 46, the valve body 40, the valve spring 48 and valve housing are assembled with the retainer member 20. Valve housing 30 is telescoped within the retainer member 20 and the resilient gasket 46 is compressed to a desired degree by the advancing lip 36 of the valve housing 30. The assembly is maintained in the axially compressed condition and a plurality of tab members 27 are cut or struck from the lower skirt region of the cylindrical skirt portion 22. The lower end of the tabs remains integral with the skirt. The upper or free ends of the tabs 27 are deflected radially inwardly to lock the valve housing 30 in place. An annular bead 38 on the tab receiving shoulder 39 of the valve housing 30 serves to retain the free end of the tabs 27 in the locked position. Tabs 27 are struck from the material of the cylindrical portion 22 and deflected inwardly by appropriate punch and die means. The plurality of tabs 27 may be evenly circumferentially spaced and simultaneously struck by multiple radial punches. A mandrel interior of the cylindrical portion can serve as a die for the punch elements while also serving to axially compress the valve housing 30 into the gasket 46. After the tabs 27 are locked against the housing the mandrel is withdrawn and the gasket 46 will remain compressed.

As is shown in FIG. 1, a similar technique of tab punching and deflection can be employed to form a plurality of tabs 81 in upstanding wall 29 of the retainer 20 to engage a flange on the lower lip of the protective dome or overcap 80 which encloses the valve actuator button 70. This technique ofsecurement ofthe overcap is advantageously used with a tamper proof overcap which employs a tear strip 82 or the like for removal of the cap by the ultimate consumer.

The assembly 60 of the retainer member and the several valve parts is completed by locking the parts in place with tabs 27. The assembly then is ready to be affixed to the container end closure 10. The retainer member 20 including the valve is pressed into the aperture ofthe end closure with a force sufficient to seat the edge of the aperture against the annular shoulder 23, compress the sealing bead 21 and deflect the radial flange 28 into intimate contact with the shallow conical portion 12 of the end closure. It has been found that this press-fit assembly technique is benefited by providing the valve housing 30 with a reduced diameter portion 31 in the region adjacent the annular sealing bead 21 and annular shoulder portion 23 of the retainer member 20. The relief afforded by the reduced diameter portion 31 permits inward flexure of the retainer member as the annular shoulder 23 is forced past the edge of the aperture of the end closure during assembly.

The completed valve assembly 60 or the further assembly of the valve assembly 60 with an end closure 10 constitute marketable units which are fitted to a container along with product and propellant to form a complete dispenser package. Since the retainer member will accept conventional or stock valve parts, the full range of stock valve options and know how is available to be utilized with the present invention to tailor the valve to the particular product and package.

I claim:

1. The combination ofa metal end closure for a pressurized dispenser container, a valve unit and a plastic retainer for mounting the valve unit, the end closure including a central aperture defined by an axially inwardly projecting flange, the retainer including a cylindrical skirt portion for receiving a valve unit, the retainer including a resilient radial flange abutting the exterior surface of the end closure, the cylindrical skirt portion extending through the end closure aperture and including an annular shoulder against which the edge of the end closure flange bears to lock the retainer in place in the aperture, the end closure including a conical inward depression circumscribing the aperture whereby the radial flange of the retainer is deflected into conforming abuttment with said conical depression, the cylindrical skirt portion of the retainer also including a plurality of tabs integral with a lower portion of the skirt and extending inwardly, the free ends of the tabs bearing axially against the valve unit.

2. A valve unit and a plastic valve retainer member assembly for a pressurized container, wherein the valve unit comprises a valve housing, a valve body. a valve spring and a valve gasket and wherein the valve retainer member is provided with a hollow cylindrical skirt portion including an exterior annular shoulder and an exterior annular sealing bead and is also provided with a radial flange, said assembly being adapted for mounting in an end closure for the container provided with a central aperture defined by an axially inwardly projecting flange, such that the annular shoulder bears against the edge of said central aperture, the annular sealing bead bears radially against said inwardly projecting flange, and the radial flange of the retainer member overlies and abuts said end closure, said skirt portion also including a plurality of tabs integral with a lower portion of the skirt and extending inwardly, the free ends of the tabs bearing axially against the valve unit to retain it in the retainer member.

3. A valve unit and valve retainer member assembly according to claim 2, wherein the radial flange of the retainer member is deflected into close engagement with a shallow conical portion of the end closure bounding said central aperture.

4. A valve unit and valve retainer member assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical skirt portion terminates in an upper end wall, through which a hollow valve stem portion of the valve body extends, the valve gasket being pressed against the end wall by an adjacent top rim ofthe valve housing under the axial bearing of said tabs. 

1. The combination of a metal end closure for a pressurized dispenser container, a valve unit and a plastic retainer for mounting the valve unit, the end closure including a central aperture defined by an axially inwardly projecting flange, the retainer including a cylindrical skirt portion for receiviNg a valve unit, the retainer including a resilient radial flange abutting the exterior surface of the end closure, the cylindrical skirt portion extending through the end closure aperture and including an annular shoulder against which the edge of the end closure flange bears to lock the retainer in place in the aperture, the end closure including a conical inward depression circumscribing the aperture whereby the radial flange of the retainer is deflected into conforming abuttment with said conical depression, the cylindrical skirt portion of the retainer also including a plurality of tabs integral with a lower portion of the skirt and extending inwardly, the free ends of the tabs bearing axially against the valve unit.
 2. A valve unit and a plastic valve retainer member assembly for a pressurized container, wherein the valve unit comprises a valve housing, a valve body, a valve spring and a valve gasket and wherein the valve retainer member is provided with a hollow cylindrical skirt portion including an exterior annular shoulder and an exterior annular sealing bead and is also provided with a radial flange, said assembly being adapted for mounting in an end closure for the container provided with a central aperture defined by an axially inwardly projecting flange, such that the annular shoulder bears against the edge of said central aperture, the annular sealing bead bears radially against said inwardly projecting flange, and the radial flange of the retainer member overlies and abuts said end closure, said skirt portion also including a plurality of tabs integral with a lower portion of the skirt and extending inwardly, the free ends of the tabs bearing axially against the valve unit to retain it in the retainer member.
 3. A valve unit and valve retainer member assembly according to claim 2, wherein the radial flange of the retainer member is deflected into close engagement with a shallow conical portion of the end closure bounding said central aperture.
 4. A valve unit and valve retainer member assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical skirt portion terminates in an upper end wall, through which a hollow valve stem portion of the valve body extends, the valve gasket being pressed against the end wall by an adjacent top rim of the valve housing under the axial bearing of said tabs. 